- Any sane, rationally thinking, and balanced/measured human being will always acknowledge that every living being in the universe is to be treated equally, respectfully, and humanely. Every revered scripture available in the world passed on from ages unambiguously upholds this basic tenet of life. We all have grown up listening to moral lessons from our parents, elders, teachers, and leaders from all walks of life on how to treat our fellow human beings. Most importantly, extending respect to another gender too has been articulated at every step of growth right from the time we could grasp the matter. Sadly, matter on the ground is completely indifferent to this.
PC: Lakshmi C
- Unfortunately, society around the world hasn’t seen drastic changes in the way women are treated as compared to men despite efforts. Women struggle to not only lead a life of mutual respect, opportunities, parity, equality, and unbiased existence but also have to contend with the aggressiveness of men who perpetrate unmentionable violence on the hapless. I am referring to the sexual offences and other forms of offences against women that remain unchecked leading to brutalities. Ideally speaking, such offences cannot have any place in a civilized society. Unabated violations targeting women always head northwards despite authorities around the world framing water-tight laws to curb the menace.
- Of course, deterrent measures are in place but the slow process of the justice delivery system is a certain hindrance in mitigating the women’s/victims plight. What drives men to act in such a beastly manner? Let’s delve deep to understand the same. I feel it’s the sense of entitlement imbibed right from birth that compels men to act insanely. What’s happening with young men in India, as more women move out of the allotted gender roles, bears deep examination. The sense of entitlement often takes the familiar form of retributive violence as can be seen around India. For instance, a male graduate student in Aurangabad set himself and his fellow student ablaze in their professor’s office, because she rejected his proposal.
PC: Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa
- More often, it is simply the inability to see women as people with wills and desires of their own, who exist for themselves and not to serve men’s needs. In Karnataka, young farmers are requesting a ban on inter-district marriage, because the women around them are seeking better prospects and wider horizons. And what’s the reason? Those who fight inter-faith or inter-caste relationships assume that women are docile dupes, property to be safeguarded by their men. Did someone mention conditioning? Indeed, it is bone-deep in our society. Violence against women is also processed through this lens. Attacks like intimate partner rape or abuse that are far more widespread but less socially shameful than the street and stranger crime provoke less outrage.
- No wonder, our institutions mirror this mentality. Thankfully, an increasing number of women are questioning this male prejudice order by seeking their own freedom in education, employment, and life. Unfortunately, men, failing to see that a system set up to serve them is harming them, lash out in confusion and rage at women. Needless to mention, the future will change only when boys do. For that to fructify, parents must bring up their progenies in an environment of gender neutrality. Unless this assumes an inalienable focal point of discretion in every family, offences against women will remain in news.
